Pile-driver



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. W. PUTNAM.

Pile-Driver.

No. 229,462. Patented June 29,1880.

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WITNESSES:

ATTORNEYS.

N. PETERS. PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHUL wAsmNGTON, D c.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. W. PUTNAM.

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WITNESSES ii 34M ATTORNEYS.

NVPEIERS. PHOTO-UTHOGHAFHER, WASHINGTON. D C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEQ JOSEPH W. PUTNAM, OF NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA.

PlLE-DRIVER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 229,462, dated June 29, 1880.

Application filed December 18, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH W. PUTNAM, of New Orleans, in the parish of Orleans and State of Louisiana, have invented a new and Improved Pile-Driver; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in the class of pile-drivers which are adapted for use in the construction of railroads, being for that purpose mounted on a truck or platform car in such manner as to admit of lateral movement in the arc of a circle, so as to drive several piles successively without requiring any change in the position of the truck or car.

My invention relates to the construction and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter described and claimed.

In accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved pile driver. Fig. 2 is an end View. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on line as :20, Fig: 2. Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view.

The platform A'of the pile-driver proper is pivoted centrally and horizontally on a truck or platform car, B, adapted to run on a railwaytrack. The platform A is adjusted or swung on its pivot by means of ropes O.

Leaders or hammer-guides have been heretofore arranged to swing sidewise; but in such case when the guides are inclined the pile and hammer rest entirely on but one of the guides, so that the operation of driving the pile is difficult and the work unsatisfactory.

I place my leaders or guides in an opposite direction with their faces toward the side of the roadway, and pivot them in such manner that piles may be driven either obliquely or vertically with equal facility-that is to say, the leaders D and their braces E, which constitute one rigid frame, are supported and pivoted on a shaft, F, having its hearings in uprights G, forming part of a frame-work that is rigidly attached to one end of the platform A. The faces or front sides of the leaders are toward the side of the roadway, and they swing across the same, as shown. The point of attachment of the leader-frame D E to said shaft F is about the middle of its length, and between the guides D and braces E. The leader-frame is therefore balanced and adapted to swing on the shaft as a center. In other words, the leaders D may be adjusted at various vertical inclinations, for the purpose of driving piles either perpendicular or oblique to the railway-track or road-bed along either side thereof, and it is also obvious that they may be used for driving piles vertically between the rails.

In practical operation the machine is used for driving piles along one side and in the middle of the road-bed for the required or any desired distance, and the platform A is then rotated on its pivot end for end, to place the leaders D in proper relation to the track for driving piles along the other side thereof.

For adjusting the leader-frame D E at the required inclination I employ the shaft H, having apinion, I, on its inner end, which meshes with a curved rack, K, attached to the lower portion of such frame, Fig. 4.

It is apparent that by rotating said shaftin one direction or the other it will move the base of the frame laterally or across the end of platform A, and thus swing the leaders D into the required position or inclination.

The shaft H is geared with a driving-shaft, L, to which rotation is imparted from an engine (not shown) located on the end of the platform A, opposite that where the leader-frame is located. The said driving-shaft L rotates constantly in one direction, but is connected at will with shaft H by means of bevelgears d and d d, so that shaft H may be made to rotate either right or left. The gears d d are loose on shaft L and rotate therewith by engagement with a double clutch, N, which is operated by a lever, e, and slides on the shaft L, the latter being provided with a feather or else made polygonal, as shown.

In order to fasten the leader-frame D E rigidly in vertical or inclined position, I employ a clamp-bo1t, 0, Fig. 4, and two slotted plates, P Q. One,P, of said plates is attached to the end of platform A, and the other plate, Q, to the side of that leader D which is contiguous to said platform, while the bolt 0 passes through the slots of the plates, so that by screwing up the nutf on the bolt it will clamp the plates together with sufficient friction to prevent the slightest lateral movement of the leaders.

In placing or setting piles in position for driving, and also for holding and guiding them while being driven, I provide the leaders with hooksgfor supporting guide-bars; but I do not deem it necessary to here describe such devices further, since I have made them the subject ofa claim in an application I propose to file.

The height of the leaders is such that the machine cannot pass under bridges and through tunnels of the usual height. It hence becomes necessary to provide for lowering the leaderframe conveniently. This I effect by the mode or means of connection between said frames and the shaft on which it swings transversely to the platform A. Said means consists of a shaft, R, which passes through an eye in shaft F, at right angles thereto, and whose ends are rigidly attached to the leaders I) and braces E, respectively. Such shaft It forms the axis on which the frame I) E may be turned in a plane parallel to the face of the leaders I), so that it may he placed in horizontal position, the upper end resting on the truss-frame of platform A, as shown in dotted lines, Fig. l, and thus adapted for passing under any bridge or tunnel-roof wherever a passenger or freight car may go; but such operation cannot be effected until the clamp O, the rack-bar K,and the bar S (which latter connects the lower ends of a brace and leader) have been detached, since they would otherwise come in contact with a portion of the frame-work supporting the leaders.

I do not claim, broadly, attaching leaders to a platform or carriage in such a manner that they shall face the side of the roadway; but

What I claim is 1. In a pile -driver, the combination, with the platform, of leaders or hammerguides placed with their faces or front sides toward the side of the platform and pivoted near their center, as shown and described, whereby they may be easily swung across the end of the latter, for the purpose of driving piles oblique to the road-bed, as specified.

2. In a pile-driver, the combination, with the swinging platform, of hammer guides placed with their faces toward the side of the platform and doubly pivoted, as shown and described. so as to swing across the end of said platform for the purpose of driving piles either perpendicular or oblique to the roadbed, and also to swing longitudinally with respect to the platform to admit of being placed in horizontal position for passing under bridges and through tunnels, as specified.

3. In a pile-driver, the combination, with the car or truck, of leaders which are pivoted centrally, or thereabout, and swing bodily on their pivot-supports in a direction lengthwise of the platform or bed of the car, as specified, so that the leaders may be placed in horizontal position when required.

4. In a pile-driver, the combination, with the leader-frame and shaft F, of the shaft R, which passes through and is arranged at right angles to the shaft F, and constitutes the means of connection between the frame and shaft F, and thereby the axis on which the leaders swing lengthwise ot the platform, as specified.

5. In a pile. -driver, the combination of the leaders I) and braces E, the shaft L, on which they are centrally supported and pivoted, the supporting-frame, and platform A, as shown and described.

6. In a pile-driver, the combination of the shaft H and rack K with the pivoted swinging leaders, substantially as shown and described, for the purpose of adjusting the latter, as specified.

7. In a pile-driver, the combination of the slotted plates and a clamping-bolt with the pivoted adjustable or swinging. leader-sand the platform A, substantially as shown and described, for the purpose of securing the leaders at any desired inclination.

The above specification of my invention signed by me this 6th day of December, 1879.

J. W. PUTNAM.

Witnesses SoLoN C. KEMON, CHAS. A. PETTIT. 

